Styx were formed in Chicago as far back as 1968, but developed slowly around
Dennis DeYoung's keyboards.

Styx I (RCA, 1972) displayed DeYoung's ambitions
(Movement for The Common Man) but the sound was unfocused.
Styx II (RCA, 1973) veered towards a simpler form of AOR (Lady),
which was refined on Serpent Is Rising (1973) and
Man of Miracles (1974).
Suite Madame Blue, from Equinox (A&M, 1975), turned Styx into
the quintessential "pomp-rock" band, also celebrated for its
imposing live shows.

Adding guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw to the line-up, Styx found its true voice
on Crystal Ball (1976) and stardom with
The Grand Illusion (1977), that contains
Come Sail Away,
Miss America,
Superstars,
Castle Walls.
Pieces of Eight (1978), with Renegade, and
Cornerstone (1979), with the obnoxious ballad Babe,
cashed in on the melodic/atmospheric formula.
The band tried to reassert its artistic status with the
concept album Paradise Theater (1980), whose highlights are slightly
more pretentious ballads
(The Best Of Times, Too Much Time On My Hands), and with the
sci-fi concept album Kilroy Was Here (1983), that includes
Mr Roboto.
Styx reformed for Edge of the Century (1990) that yielded
Show Me The Way.